Or is the hawthorn looking particularly stonking this year?
Loads of it blooming away in Birkdale dunes this morning, where Willow Warblers, Chiffies, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap were singing their brains out.
Good numbers of Swifts hawking overhead too, while Greenland Wheatears were moving in small numbers along the coast.
Couldn't get in the mood to squint through the fence at the undoubtedly gorgeous female Wilson's Phal at Seaforth at the weekend, but plenty of Corn Bunts were rattling and jangling out on Plex, and you can't ask for a more dramatic bird than that.
Northern Marsh Orchid flowering in the dunes now and mucho Cow Parsley a go go on the mosses.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Checking in from Canada (Saskatchewan). When I saw the photo I first assumed it was snow on the tree. Thankfully for you it is not. We had rain mixed with snow today but the prairie waterfowl seem to like it. Enjoy your blog. Keep up the "stonking" good work!
I agree the Hawthorn is awesome at the moment - superb. Female Marsh Harrier on Crossens outer this afternoon, three Curlew Sands & a Little Stint on Polly's this morning. Male Yellow Wagtail in front of Sandgrounders. Two Spoonbills at the mouth of the Douglas this morning, apparently. Then Stephen went & found the Rosefinch at St Annes; plenty still moving.
little owl, whitethroat, sedge, grasshopper and willow warbler in Thornton near The Nags Head yesterday
2 Groppers, 2 Sedgies, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Spot Fly all at beautiful Birkdale today.
White Tailed Plover (Lapwing) at Seaforth this afternoon, 27th May!
I agree John, Hawthorn blossom is exceptional this year as were Dandelions and, just now at Crosby the Bird's Foot Trefoil. I think that the large numbers of Peacock Butterflies which survived the winter could have been because the prolonged cold weather, without any mild days, prevented any of them from waking up too early. Locally, Drinker Moth caterpillars seem to have disappeared, which could be bad news for newly arrived Cuckoos in wetland areas. Meanwhile I recently found a fully grown Old Lady Moth caterpillar on a pavement in Crosby and a half grown Copper Underwing Moth larva at the base of a Lime tree in Lord Street, Southport. Here in my Liverpool garden a newly emerged Iron Prominent Moth was on a Birch trunk.